While various technologies are still under development to eventually put some kerbals on Mun, the Agency is getting ready by establishing a communications relay network that will allow an orbiting craft to maintain a constant connection to Mission Control. To do this, there will be two ComSats placed out in front and behind Mun along its orbit. The first, ComSat Mun I, is what the KSA is launching for this mission. The transfer stage that will carry the satellite into position will then enter into an orbit around Mun for science observations. After this, an impact trajectory will be set up to kick up a good amount of Munar soil that ground-based telescopes can observe. The mission is expected to take two days to complete.
Tag Archive: success
Jul 04 2014
#025: Day-long Polar Orbit for Science
Now that the LKO communications network is finally completed and fully operational, a mission proposed weeks ago by Lead Scientist Wernher Von Kerman was finally approved – a near-polar orbit would be established for observations of the entire planet over the course of a day-long mission. Originally scheduled to launch on 6/30, the previous day a dish at the tracking station suffered a mechanical failure and needed to be replaced. After a day to replace the dish and a day to test/calibrate it, weather was the issue holding up the launch. There was a small chance, so Flight Director Lanalye ordered the rocket out to the pad the night before so it could be prepped in the morning. However a fuel line was not properly attached, blew loose overnight and moisture got into one of the large main engine tanks. In the time it took to dry, the weather worsened for the day and launch had to be cancelled. Finally, on 7/3, everything fell into place for the mission to receive a Go.
Jun 23 2014
#024: Servicing the ComSat Network
The Agency had originally planned to do this in two missions, but Lead Engineer Simon convinced Flight Director Lanalye in a marathon planning session that it could be done in one. Thus, Captain Bob was tasked with piloting the tallest rocket assembled to date into orbit high above Kerbin to service ComSat I, which needed larger-capacity batteries. He then had to lower his orbit to rendezvous with ComSat II, which had experienced problems during launch that caused it to lose all its solar panels. The ComSat Service Vehicle constructed for this mission was an improved model of the craft used for the Kerbin III de-orbit that allowed fuel transfer to restore Center of Mass within the RCS thruster ring for proper translation abilities Bob lacked in the previous mission. The Agency was all set to pull off yet another successful mission.
Jun 11 2014
#023: Third Time’s the Charm
After failing to rendezvous and de-orbit the derelict Kerbin III spacecraft for a second time, the team at KSA has come up with an even better rendezvous technique they hope will allow for success on this mission. Additionally, the rocket being flown by Capt Bob has been slightly simplified to reduce the chance of any staging malfunctions interrupting the rendezvous attempt.
May 23 2014
#020: Radial Chute Testing
With the successful placement of ComSat III, the other two ComSats require servicing. Before sending another kerbal into space, the engineering team wants to test a re-designed radial chute – the type of chute that failed on re-entry and killed Cmdr Jeb. If successful, this will open more design options for future kerbed missions.
May 17 2014
#019: ComSat III Placement
After the previously failed launch, a new ComSat III is sent up into orbit to complete the initial phase of the LKO communications network.
May 04 2014
#016: Saving ComSat I
The first of 3 communications satellites is placed to eventually eliminate comm blackouts in Low Kerbin Orbit, however problems arise during orbital insertion that requires a much longer mission than planned.
Apr 28 2014
#015: The Rogue Flight of Kerbin VI
Apr 23 2014
#014: In Case of Emergency…
Although the Agency now has a successful means of recovering a capsule from orbit, they are still worried about failure and are testing a possible last-ditch option. The could potentially save an astronauts life should chutes fail to deploy.
Apr 19 2014
#013: Testing 1…2…3…
After repeated failures and with engineer still unable to determine the root cause of the problem the radial chutes have been sent back to the R&D labs and now the focus is on ensuring the nose cone chute can survive re-entry as configured for a kerbed mission. Capt Bill is granted manual remote control of the flight and all goes well until orbit…